Esther 9
TSK
Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)
The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.
And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.
Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.

smote.

Psalm 18:34-40,47,48 He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms…

Psalm 20:7,8 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember …

Psalm 149:6-9 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword …

2 Thessalonians 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation …

the stroke.

Jeremiah 18:21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their …

what they would. Heb. according to their will. The Chaldee paraphrast says that none appeared against the Jews but Amalekites only, who were infatuated, and had their hearts hardened, as Pharaoh's against Israel, to take up arms to their own destruction. Some had such an inveterate, implacable malice against the Jews, that Haman's fall and Mordecai's advancement, instead of convincing, seemed only to exasperate them the more. How have the most dreadful scourges ravaged a country, and yet the inhabitants are unmindful of the Almighty Disposer of events, and that the cause of his righteous displeasure is their continual provocation! Forty years long was he grieved with one generation, who learned not his ways, although daily fed and clothed by a miracle.

And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.
And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,
And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,
The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

ten sons.

Esther 5:11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude …

Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the …

Job 18:18,19 He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world…

Job 27:13-15 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of …

Psalm 21:10 Their fruit shall you destroy from the earth, and their seed from …

Psalm 109:12,13 Let there be none to extend mercy to him: neither let there be any …

enemy.

Esther 3:1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha …

Esther 7:4,6 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and …

Exodus 17:16 For he said, Because the LORD has sworn that the LORD will have war …

but on the spoil. It does not appear that the Jews slew any person who did not rise up to destroy them: they stood for their lives; and gave full proof that they sought their own personal safety, and not the property of their enemies: though the decree in their favour gave them authority to take the property of all their adversaries.

Esther 9:15,16 For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on …

Esther 8:11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather …

Genesis 14:23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that …

Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the …

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are …

On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.
And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.
Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.

If it please the king. Esther had probably been informed by Mordecai, that there were still many enemies of the Jews who sought their destruction, who had escaped the preceding day; and therefore begged that the second day might be added to the former permission; and that the sons of Haman, who had already been slain, might be suspended on gibbets, as a terror to those who sought the destruction of the Jews.

according unto.

Esther 8:11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather …

let Haman's ten sons be hanged. Heb. let men hang Haman's ten sons.

Deuteronomy 21:23 His body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall in …

2 Samuel 21:6,9 Let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them …

Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse …

And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.
But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,
On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.
And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

gladness.

Esther 9:22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month …

Esther 8:17 And in every province, and in every city, wherever the king's commandment …

Deuteronomy 16:11,14 And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you, and your son, …

Nehemiah 8:10-12 Then he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, …

Psalm 118:11-16 They compassed me about; yes, they compassed me about: but in the …

Luke 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as you have; and, behold, all …

Revelation 11:10 And they that dwell on the earth shall rejoice over them, and make …

sending portions. The eastern princes and people not only invite their friends to feasts, but it is their custom to send a portion of the banquet to those that cannot well attend, especially their relations, and those in a state of mourning. Thus, when the Grand Emir found that it incommoded M. D'Arvieux to eat with him, he desired him to take his own time for eating, and sent him from his kitchen what he liked best.

To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,
As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;
Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;
But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

the enemy.

Esther 9:10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, …

Esther 3:5-13 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, …

Pur. The word {pur} seems to be derived either from the Persian {bahr} and {bar,} a part, portion, lot, or pari, any thing which happens fortuitously or fortunately; whence the annual festival in commemoration of the wonderful deliverance of the Jews from their enemies was called Purim, or in Arabic and Persian, {Fuhr,} or {Lots;} which has been observed by them, in all places of their dispersion, from that day to the present time, without any interruption.

Esther 3:7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year …

consume. Heb. crush.

Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,
The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;
And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.
Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.
And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,
To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by R. A. Torrey [ca. 1880]
Expanded version courtesy INT Bible ©2013, Used by permission

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